The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust recently expressed its discontent with the Danziger Gallery's choice to feature an AI-generated artwork inspired by Adams at the upcoming AIPAD Photography Show in April 2026. This announcement came in a statement issued on Saturday.
The controversial piece, still available on Danziger's website, is presented without a title but is identified as A.I. GENERATED, From the prompt: Make a realistic color version of Ansel Adams' iconic "Moonrise Over Hernandez". It has been printed by master printer Esteban Mauchi and was showcased alongside works by renowned artists such as Seydou Keïta and Hoda Afshar during the fair, which is set to run from April 22 to April 26.
In their statement, the Trust asserted that they had "not authorized, endorsed, consented to, or acquiesced" to the display of this piece, claiming it misuses Adams's name and legacy while neglecting to credit any human artist behind its creation. They also noted that the gallery had not informed them prior to the artwork's exhibition, and efforts to have it removed were reportedly ignored by Danziger.
The Trust emphasized that while Ansel Adams was a pioneer in photography and embraced technological advancements, their concerns center on artists' rights and the importance of recognizing human creativity. They stated, "This is fundamentally about artists' rights and moral rights--and respect for human dignity," highlighting the need for accountability in the use of AI in art.
As of now, Danziger has not publicly addressed the controversy and has not responded to inquiries from ARTnews.
Prominent photographers have voiced their concerns regarding this situation, with notable figures like Pete Souza and Pulitzer Prize winner David Hume Kennerly expressing their disapproval on social media. Souza remarked that the gallery's decision was "morally wrong" and jeopardizes the rights of photographers, while Kennerly suggested that Adams would have strongly opposed such exploitation of his work.
This incident is not the first time the Trust has confronted issues surrounding AI-generated images associated with Adams's name. In 2024, they publicly criticized Adobe for including AI-generated images labeled as "Ansel Adams-Style Photography" in their stock catalog. Following the Trust's objections, Adobe removed the contentious content from their platform.
As the art world increasingly intersects with technology, this situation underscores the importance of establishing clear boundaries and ethical standards to protect artists' legacies and rights in the age of AI.